Black Sea Grain Corridor

The export corridor that moves Ukrainian and Black Sea grain to world markets through the Bosphorus.

Overview

Before 2022, Ukraine and Russia together supplied a large share of world wheat and most sunflower oil exports, moving through Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi. Russia's invasion blockaded the ports until the Istanbul agreement of July 2022 allowed inspected shipments, which moved over 30 million tonnes before Russia withdrew in July 2023. Ukraine then ran its own humanitarian corridor hugging the coast, while Danube ports and EU rail routes carried the rest. War-risk insurance, structured with state guarantees, made the voyages possible. Egyptian and North African millers still price their bread off this corridor.